Suspension means for tube frames



March 1G, 1925. E. F. HATHAWAY sUsPENsmN MEANS Fon TUBE FRAMES f., ,mg f,

-lii

Patented Mar. l0, 1925.

Nl TE'D -ST'A TES PATENT orifice 'EDGAR"F.YHiATHAWAY,"OF'-WELLBSLEY, MASSAGHUSE'ITS, ASSIGNOR TO SHAWMUT ENGINEERING#OOMPANYOF1`BGSTON- MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS SUSPENSION MEANS FOR TUBE FRAMES.

Application led May 24.

Re it known that I. 'Erio.Ar:"F. HATHAWAY. :i eitizen of the United States` and' resident of lVellesley. in the eminty of Norfolk and State ot' Massa-husetts. have invented eertain new and useful Improvements in Suspension Means for Tube Frames. of which This invention relates to' suspension means for tube frames used in the Weaving of pile fabries sueh as Axinnster carpets and the like :Ind is irit'ride1-ltoY provide Il selllTe. ieliable and simple .onstruetion'by which tube frames may be seeurely 'held in their .arrier eliains while permitting the autoniatie release and return of the tube frame to its supporting carrier.

It has formerly been the .oinmereial pracl tioe to eniplovfor the suspension of a tube frame from its earrier chains a pair of eoaeting arms or connecting members at eaeh end the other beim,r provitlei'l with a hool: at its` end and beingr made of sprinr metal to vield under the preure of the tube frame transfer tlutehes in order to permit ielease troni the Chain While holding'the tube frame normally suspended froni'thefeed ehain. ttiie of the weak points in this old eon'stmetion is that an accidental blow or .-ontaet against the end of the sl'iringarminav release the hook and allowthe tube frame to drop into the looin therebv causingr muili damage and trouble.

The present invention overcomes sui-li liftiellltle liY providing positively lOCkefl but automatitallv releasable suspension means by whieh the tube frame is securely lot-lied to its -:irrier rhains. while the parts are so arrangwl as to lie readily released bvthe transfer elutehes whieli aet to transfer tlie tube frame from its earrier chain to position for use in the iveeivinicr operation when it is retpiired. ThisI and other features of the invention will be explained in the followingr .specification und will be defined in the elaims-hereto annexed. The speeitii features of eonstlurtuiii shown in the inofli tied or alternative torni of construction illustrated in Figures T, and ft are not speeieally elainied herein but are made the subjeet matter of a divisional application tiled by lrie on the -ltli lzrv of hfav 1923.1iow Patent No. 1.409,19?. granted Sept. 25, 1923.

lnthe aeiompanyingr drawings I Ahave shown ditterent forms illustrating the praetical tipping-ation of'the principlesv of'tliis invention` in which:

Figui-e 1 is a front elevation Showing the end of a ti il e'fr;iine With suspension menibers emhodying the present invention in liielred position on the ehain which is shown in"dotted lines, .tlie prineipal 'parts being Ashown in a vertical eross section.

`Figure i* is a plan view of the construetijin shown in Figure 1.

`rFigure 2? is an end elevation of the sus- 1.ensii;irinea ns vievvedfrom'thev insideY Figure l is a, view similar to Figurel but, showing the hook arm of the suspension means open to release the hook member from 'locked position either for transferringT the Ytube frame from the sprocket elrain or for Itransferring it to the sprocket chain after "the tube framehas been in use.

Figuref is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the hook arni in an intermediate position.

` Figure 6 shows a slightly mo'died form in 'which a tension spring is used to insure illosing of the hook arm or jaw.

yFigures T and S are front elevations eioss section of vniodied forms shown tivo different positions of aetion.

`Figure Il is an end elevation thereof.

As will be understood tol those skilled the art of weaving pile fabries. suoli as carpets` the pile formingr tutt elements of yarn comprising` va rn of tlitterent shades or colors are wound on spools of tube tranie in a liiredeteiinined order or arrangement in eorrespondeiiee with the desired pattern and have their free ends projwtingr slightlv from the delivery ends of hollow needles or tutt tubes which guitle them into position bttween the Warp threads of the fabric. A large number of these tutt tubes are arranged in sequence in the links of parallel sliroeket ehains or earriers from whieli tlieifr :ire suspended by means of suspension :ii-nis or jaws arranged in oli-operating pains :it eaeli end ot the tube frame. These suspension members usually ..iniprise a linltpenetratinv arm and a eo-aeting arm or ian' t`oinie.lat its upper end with a retaining hook and made of spring metal so to yield to 'releasefthe hook from retaining engageineiit'ititli the chain. yThis release lll lll

is etleeted loo los

by means of a suitably arranged pair of transfer clutches which are positioned to arise at opposite ends of the tube frame to engage the overhead or aligned ends ofthe tube frame, release the hooks, carry the tube frame into position for use and thereafter return it to interlocked engagement with the carrier chains. Now as any accidental blow or pressure against the exposed spring tongue or hook arm of the suspension means will operate to release the hook and allow the tube frame to fall out of the chain, the above described arrangement is not secure and fool-proof. This diiiiculty is overcome by providing a positive latch for fastening the hook arm in closed or locking position, the latch being so arranged as to be automatically operated by the transfer clutch either preliminary to releasing the tube frame from the carrier chains or when reinserting the tube frame in the carrier chains.

Any suitable form of tube frame may be employed in the practice of this invention. In this case the tube frame is shown as including a hollow or tubular carrier bar a, which forms the backbone of the frame and to each end of which is secured a suspension bracket or member Z which is rigidly secured to the carrier bar L in any suitable manner. In the present instance this suspension bracket or member l is made in one piece out of properly cut and bent sheet metal and comprises the upright or vertical arm provided with inwardly turned arms 2 and 3 properly spaced and bent to snugly iit inside the open end of the tubular carrier bar a. These inturned flange portions 2 and 3 may be provided with tapped apertures for the reception of fastening screws, and for additional guiding means the end bracket Z has inwardly turned ears or lugs 4 to engage the side walls of the tube 2. l At its upper end the bracket Z is bent at right angles to form a horizontal portion 5 which is again bent vertically to form a pointed tongue G. At an intermediate portion of the middle this plate is bent up vertically inside of the vertical plane of the bracket to form an ear 7 which is perforated to receive the journal of a yarn spool d, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.

The carrier chain is of the usual sprocket chain type illustrated in dotted lines at o in Figure 1 and other figures, the upwardly projecting tapered or pointed tongue at 6 having suiiicient length to penetrate between the sides of the chain link and project upward some distance above the top of the chain to coact and form a stop for the hook arm of the suspension couple. The horizontal portion 5 of the rigid bracket is provided with downwardly projecting wings or flanges 8 which support a horizontal fuloral pin 11 on which is fulcrumed the fastening jaw or hook member 12, which is provided at its upper end with a bent portion to form a hook 12a, to overlap the upper end of the chain for locking purposes and which is formed'at its bottom with parallel arms 12, extending'inwardly to4 form supporting arms pivotally mounted on the fulcrum pin 11. At their rear ends these horizontal extensions 12b, are provided with downward extensions having bevelled edges 12C, to be engaged by the transfer clutch as will be hereinafter explained.

Between the two parallel arms 12b is pivoted on a cross-connecting pin 12d a latch comprising parallel side portions 13, and a cross-connecting portion 14 projecting inwardly beyond the side members to form a ledge or shoulder 13a to engage the edge of a recess 9 formed in the horizontal extension 5, of the suspension arm 1. A torsion spring 15, around the fulcral axis 12c1 of the latch 13, acts to normally throw the latch in a contraclockwise direction as shown in .Figures 1 and 4.

The movable arm 12, and the latch 13, 14, are so related that when the hook 12al is in closed position, that is, in contact with the link-penetrating tongue 6, the shoulder 13a of the latch is engaged with the edge of the aperture in the horizontal member 5. Now as the arm 12 must swing in a clockwise direction to release the suspension means from the carrierv chain, it will be seen that the latch at 13"L prevents any suchl rotative movement and therefore positively holds the movable arm of the suspension means in locked position so that no pull or pressure outwardly against the hook 12a will act to release or detach the movable or locking arm from locked position. It will also be noticed that the arm 12 is provided at its outer lower end with a bent lip 12e. The operation of the device is as follows.

The transfer clutch which is of the usual construction, and therefore as shown in dotted lines at Z), has two movements, a vertical movement to position shown in Figure 1, and an inward horizontal movement to position shown in Figure 4. It will be understood that this inward horizontal movement.y by reason of the sloping cam or hook at the bottom portion of the clutch member b, serves to lift the tube frame slightly to relieve the supporting strain on the hook 12a of the movable jaw 12, to permit the easy #e release of said hook fromv chain-engaging position. In its position in Figure 1, the transfer clutch is ready to act, but has not yet acted upon the suspension means. Its first inward movement engages and releases the latch at 13a by causing a clockwise rotation of said latch against the tension of the torsion spring 15. The further inward movement of the clutch, by reason of the engagement of the cam at its lower end'in the -lii Patented Mar. l0, 1925.

Nl TE'D -ST'A TES PATENT --oFFic 'EDGAR"F.YHiATHAWAY,"OF'-WELLBSLEY, MASSAGHUSE'ITS, ASSIGNOR TO SHAWMUT ENGINEERING#OOMPANYOF1`BGSTON- MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS SUSPENSION MEANS FOR TUBE FRAMES.

Application led May 24.

Re it known that I. 'Erio.Ar:"F. HATHAWAY. :i eitizen of the United States` and' resident of lVellesley. in the eminty of Norfolk and State ot' Massa-husetts. have invented eertain new and useful Improvements in Suspension Means for Tube Frames. of which This invention relates to' suspension means for tube frames used in the weaving of pile fabries sueh as Axinnster carpets and the like :Ind is irit'riide1-ltoY provide Il selllTe. ieliahle and simple .onstruetion'by which tube frames may be seeurely 'held in their .arrier eliains while permitting the autoniatie release and return of the tube frame to its supporting carrier.

It has formerly been the .oinmereial pracl tioe to eniplovfor the suspension of a tube frame from its earrier chains a pair of eoaeting arms or connecting members at eaeh end the other beim,r provided with a hool: at its` end and beingr made of sprinr metal to vield under the preure of the tube frame transfer tlutehes in order to permit ielease troni the Chain while holding'the tube frame normally suspended froni'thefeed ehain. Uiie of the weak points in this old eon'stmetion is that an accidental blow or .-ontaet against the end of the sl'iringarminav release the hook and allowthe tube frame to drop into the looin therebv causingr muili damage and trouble.

The present invention overcomes surh liftiellltle by providing positively lOCket'l but automatieallv releasable suspension means by whieh the tube frame is securely lot-lied to its -:irrier rhains. while the parts are so arrangwl as to lie readily released bvthe transfer elutehes whieli aet to transfer tlie tube frame from its earrier chain to position for use in the ireeivinicr operation when it is retpiired. This and other features of the invention will be explained in the followingr specification und will be defined in the elaims-hereto annexed. The speeitie features of geinstlurtuiii shown in the inodi tied or alternative torni of construction illustrated in Figures T, and fl are not speeieally elainied herein but are made the subjeet matter of a divisional application dleil bv lrie on the -ltli lzrv of hfav 1923.1iow Patent No. 1.409,19?. granted Sept. 25, 1923.

lnthe aeiompanyingr drawings I Ahave shown different forms illustrating the praetieal tipping-ation of'the principlesv of'tliis inventi .n, in which:

Figui-e 1 is a front elevation Showing the end of a ti il e'fr;iine with suspension menibers emhodviin,r the present invention in liielred position on the ehain which is shown in"dotted lines, .tlie prineipal 'parts being Ashown in a vertical eross section.

`Figure i* is a plan view of the construetijin shown in Figure 1.

`rFigure 2? is an end elevation of the sus- 1.ensimrinea ns viewedfrom'thev inside Figure l is a, view similar to Figurel but, showing the hook arm of the suspension means open to release the hook member from 'loelred position either for transferringT the Ytube frame from the sprocket Chain or for Itransferring it to the sprocket chain after "the tube frame 'has been in use.

Figuref is a view similar to Figure 4 but showing the hook arni in an intermediate position.

` Figure 6 shows a slightly mo'died form in 'which a tension spring is used to insure illosing of the hook arm or jaw.

yFigures T and S are front elevations eioss section of vniodied forms shown two different positions of aetion.

`Figure Il is an end elevation thereof.

As will be understood tol those skilled the art of weaving pile fabrics. suoli as carpets` the pile formingr tutt elements of yarn eornliirisi'ng` va rn of different shades or colors are wound on spools of tube tranie in a liiredeteiinined order or arrangement in eorrespondeiiee with the desired pattern and have their free ends projwtingr slightlv from the delivery ends of hollow needles or tutt tubes which guide them into position between the warp threads of the fabric. A large number of these tutt tubes are arranged in sequence in the links of parallel sliroeket eliains or (barriers from whieli tlieifr :ire suspended by means of suspension :ii-ius or jaws arranged in oli-operating pains :it eaeli end ot the tube frame. These suspension members usually wmprise a linltpenetratinv arm and a eo-aeting arm or jaw t`oinie.lat its upper end with a retaining hook and made of spring metal so to yield to 'releasefthe hook from retaining engageineiit'witli the chain. yThis release lll lll

is etleeted loo los

in operative closed relation. said locking means being automaticall)v releasable to permit the opening of said arms to disengago them trom the carrier. substantially as described.

Suspension means for tube bracing in combination a pair suspension arms for supporting each end otl :i tube. trame. comprising :i link penetrating arm and a movable arm provided `vith an ollset hoolcV portion disposed to overlap the earrier chain wl en in closed position. and ar locking detent arranged to hold the hook arm against open' movement when pressure is exerted ng t the hook arm. said delen?. being disposed lo be engaged and released bj: the movement ot the transiter rluteli. substantiallxY as described.

Si. In a tube trame the con'ibination ot a carrier bar, an upwardly extending link penetrating arin rifiuti secure-1l thereto. a hook arm pivotall)V connected with the aforesaid link penetrating arm. and a latch arranged to auton'iaticall)v lock the pivotal arm when the latter is in closed operative position. said latch being mounted to be automatically released trom locking position during the initial part ot the hook-releasing movement of the transfer clutch ot the loom, substantially as described.

4. Suspension means tor a tube trame embracing in combination u link-penetrating arm adapted to be secured to the tube trame, a coacting hook arm connected therewith to permit its hook end to move toward and away from the linlepenetrating arm to permit operative engagement with and release trom a t-ube frame carrier chain, the hook arm being mounted to be moved by a transfer clutch out olE closed operative position to release the tube trame Vfrom the carrier and to be moved into closed operative posi tion by the reverse movement of the clutch, and automatically releasable means 'for locking the hook arm in closed position, substantially as described.

5. Suspension means ttor a tube frame embracing in combination two coacting suspension arms ilexiblv connected together for operative engagement with and release from an overhead carrier, said members being normally held in a predetermined relationship under spring tension. the movable member being arranged to be shifted against. said spring tension b v the movement of a transfer clutch, and means releasable by the movement ot' the transfer clutch for looking the movable member in closed relation/` substantially as described.

6. Suspension means t'or a tube frame embracing in combination a pair ot flexibly connected coacting suspension arms each provided with an otlset portion disposed to project respectively above and below an overhead carrier when in operative relation trames emof eoacting lor suspension engagement therewith, and means Yfor locking them in such operative relation. said locking means being automatieallv releasable when the transfer clutch of the loom moves to position to release said suspension means in order to transfer the tube trame tor use in the weaving operation. substantially as described.

T. Suspension means t'or a tube trame enn bracing ir =.'ombimition two reacting suspemion members arranged when closed tw gether to 'torni operative suspension engagement with nu overhead carrier, and a spring latch mounted on one ot said members in position to releasably lock them in closed relation. said latch being arranged to be end and ieleased against its spring tension by tbe transfer clutch ot the loom as the latter movesl to position to open the iension members and to automatically neve to locking position when the suspension members are elosed. sul'istantiallv as deseribed.

Suspension means for a tube frame embracing in its construction two (ro-acting suspension i'nvnibers flexibly connected together to permit them to close and to open 'for operative engagement with or release trom a tube traine carrier, the movable member being constructed with one portion arranged to be engaged by the transfer clutch ot' the loom tor movement into open position and with another portion arranged to be engaged b v the reverse movement ot the clutch tor movement into closed position, substantiall \Y as described.

9. Suspension means t'or a tube frame embracing in combination iexibly connected eoaeting suspension members arranged to have suspension engagement with a suitable carrier when in closed relation. and a locking detent inouuted in one ot' said members in position to lorm locking engagement with the edge of an aperture in the other member when the members are elosed and to pass into said aperture when the members are opened. said detent tending normalhv to move to locking position and being released therefrom by the pressure ot the transfer clutch. substantially as described.

l0. In a tube trame. a hollow tube, a spool bearing bracket formed ot` a single piece of sheet metal and having integral side and bottom supporting portions adapted to project within said tube.y and means to secure said bracket in position.

ll. Vln a tube trame, a hollow tube, a spool bearing bracket formed ot' a single piece ot sheet metal, said bracket having a bearing portion and having side and bottom supporting portions extending within said tube b v `which said bracket may be secured in operative position in the tube, and means to secure said parts together.

l2. ln a loom7 a pattern chain, a supporting tube, a speel bearing branlant anni prisingI a chain engaging portion. a bearingi portion, and Side :unl bnttean pnrtinn,c by which said brui-liet nmy he secured in @perA :itive position in ille tnbe, antl means tn Secure said bravliet in position. all parte el said bracket being termed el' n eingle pieve of sheet metal.

13. Suspensinn traine embrafiinl4 in i'mnbinainn wih n carrier-chain. a tube frame snspendni;y

ineniber adapted to :itforfl a releasahle en# pending venni-l10n between the tnhe 'traine and the carrier-Chain, a spring latch arranged. when actuated by its spring, tu normally lock the snspensien member against withdrawal from such snapenilingI connection, the latch being positioned to be .retracted by the transfer mechanism to perA mit release ei' said suspending Connection, snl'istantially as described.

ll. MeansA for suspending` a tnftr tnhe frame from its carrier Chains, embracing in Combination with a Carrier-Chain. a snspen sinn member adapted te afford a releasable suspending connection between the tnbe "frame and the ^arrier-eh:lin to permit transfer of the tube traine te the 100111, co-aetinggj means for positively locking said suspension nieniber againet withdrawal from auch Cenneeting relation, Huid locking ineens being itseltl releasahle by antonmtie means preliminary t0 transfer et the tube frame te the leem.

VIn Witness whereof, l have subscribed the above specification.

EDGAR F. HATHAVVAY. 

